for Airsoft Assault rifles

Before we dive into the details, we need to start by clarifying what a rifle magazine pouch is. Simply put, it is a specialized case designed to safely store magazines so that we can access them quickly and conveniently every time. A properly designed pouch will also ensure that our magazines are protected from damage.
 

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What should I choose an assault rifle magazine pouch for?

Type of weapon

The type of rifle you use largely determines the type of magazine pouch you need. You should always make sure that the magazine pouch you choose is compatible with the type of magazine you are using in your weapon. In short, you need a different magazine pouch for a G36-type rifle, and a different magazine pouch for M4/M16 magazines. But to make things less complicated, there are universal mag pouches for multiple magazine types.
What type of magazine pouch is designed for is always listed on the pouch itself (G36/AK/M4), universal pouches are for multiple magazine types.

 

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Which type of holster should I choose?

This is probably the most frequently asked question, and it's not entirely easy to answer. Each type of rifle holster has its pros and cons, and it's defacto up to you to decide which type is best. That's why we'll explain below what types of holsters are made and what pros and cons they have.
 

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Should I choose an open or closed holster?

Open

Open, or so-called Fast sumps, are the sumps that are the most commonly sold type. These pouches are designed for quick removal and insertion of magazines. Thanks to the absence of, for example, Velcro, there is no risk of you being exposed to excessive noise when removing the magazine during reloading. This type of holster is ideal for use with AR15, SR25, etc.
 

Advantages
Faster access to magazines, ideal for situations where speed is critical, such as competition shooting or tactical situations, no risk of betrayal due to noise
Disadvantages
In some cases may have less magazine grip strength, which can lead to magazine loss during active movement or if the holster is not properly secured on a vest for example.

Closed

This type of holster is designed for maximum magazine protection while carrying. Thanks to the tight securing in the holster, there is no risk of losing it, even if you need to rappel upside down (Who played COD mw2 knows!). The downside, however, is the lengthy access to the magazines. If a velcro flap is used then the noise during opening the sump is also increased. Closed holsters are ideal for G36, AK and similar type weapons.
 

Advantages
They provide greater security and protection for the magazine, keeping it clean and protected from weather and contamination.
Disadvantages
Compared to open designs, access to the magazine is slower, may require more time to extract the magazine.
 

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Material of which the pouch is made

The material is a key factor in the decision making process. The material that the magazine pouch is made of is closely tied to the price of the pouches. Longer the material chosen will affect the features of the holster such as durability, speed of inserting magazines, cleaning of the holster, type of attachment and more. Most magazine pouches are made of the following materials:
•    Nylon
This material is durable and lightweight, offering good abrasion and moisture resistance, which is why it is also the most used fabric material, along with CORDURA. It is best to choose bags made of 600D or 1000D nylon.
•    Kydex
Kydex is a thermoplastic that is usually designed for specific magazines or calibers (molded to a specific type of magazine). For this reason, it may not be compatible with other manufacturers' magazines. It is characterized by its ease of maintenance and great durability.
•    Cordura
Cordura belongs to the group of highly durable synthetic fabrics that are characterized by high resistance to abrasion, tearing and wear. In addition, these materials can come in a variety of finishes, such as IRR (not visible in night vision).
•    Polymer
We can also encounter universal magazines that are made of polymer. Their versatility means that they are made for multiple types of magazines, for example. The advantages are high strength, low weight, and also easy maintenance.
 

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Are plastic or cloth magazines better?

Here it's mostly about your personal preference whether you prefer plastic or cloth rifle holsters. Nowadays, we see both plastic and cloth holsters in real combat and on airsoft fields. To make your decision easier, we will list the pros and cons for both materials used below.

Plastic

Satchels made of plastic are awesome in that they are easy to maintain and strong and durable. Due to its properties, this material protects the magazine well from impacts and also keeps the magazine firmly inside due to its shape, which means it won't fall out even when the holster is turned upside down. The disadvantage is the lack of the possibility to put more pouches on top of each other to increase the number of magazines carried.
Advantages
Strength, easy maintenance, dimensional stability, tight fit of the tray in the sump, easy adjustment of the clamp force
Disadvantages
Designed for a specific type of magazine, inability to stack additional magazines, higher price

Fabric

Fabric magazine pouches are universal in most cases, so you can put any rifle magazine from different manufacturers in them. They are lightweight, durable and also more flexible than plastic ones. A large number of models have a MOLLE binding so we can put multiple holsters on them. The downside is the possibility of damage from dirt, water, or abrasion. They are also harder to clean compared to plastic models. In addition, after some time the pouch can stretch and thus the clamp of the magazine can deteriorate.
 

       

Advantages
Balance between durability, flexibility and lightness, relatively inexpensive, wide portfolio, possible use of rifle magazines of different manufacturers and shapes
Disadvantages
More susceptible to damage from dirt and water, more difficult to clean, some are less strong than plastic magazines
 

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How do magazine pouches attach to gear?

As with other panniers, there are several ways of attaching panniers to gear. The final choice will depend on both personal preference and the intended location of the pannier.
The most common attachment methods include:
On the belt: These pouches attach directly to a tactical belt and are great for lightweight setups. The method of attachment to the belt is either by threading the belt through the holster or by using loops. It is very important to watch the width of the belt to fit the loops. This is especially important for external tactical belts.

     

MOLLE: The MOLLE system has become more and more popular recently. Holsters with the MOLLE system are ideal for users who have a tactical vest, chest rig or perhaps a backpack and magazines to clip onto them. Molle will ensure the holster is firmly attached to the platform. This is the classic way of attaching magazine pouches to gear.

Velcro: Another option is to use Velcro. Its advantage is the possibility of quick attachment and removal from, for example, a vest, but as a disadvantage is the possibility of detachment from the vest due to a heavily loaded sump or when stumbling on the surrounding terrain.
 

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What about the number of pouches and where to place them?

As they say, there are never enough bullets and magazines. That's why we need to think about how many magazines we actually need. It depends on what type of magazines you actually use, whether low-cap, mid-cap or hi-cap. 
Overall, it would be better to have at least 4 magazines. Here then is the option to have 4 mags per magazine, or better yet 2 mags for 2 mags.
But where to place them? The placement of the magazines on the vest and on the belt is a bit different. On the belt it is better to have the magazines on the left side of the body in the case of a right-handed person, so in the case of a left-handed person it is exactly the opposite. On the vest, in the case of a right-handed person, it is better to put the holsters more to the right, so that you can access them more easily and comfortably. In the case of a left-handed person, the exact opposite is true.
 

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Is comfort important when choosing a holster?

Comfort is often overlooked, but it is essential for combat. A fighter in good comfort has a much higher efficiency in combat. The trend today is that many people are slimming down their equipment to make it as compact and therefore comfortable as possible. In case you are planning to wear a sumac on your belt, then it is a good idea to make sure that the sumac sits firmly in place, not pushing you anywhere when you move.
 

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How do the magazines in the magazine pouches hold up? 

Properly securing the magazine in the holster is an important parameter in the selection process.
There are several methods of securing, but the most common ones we come across are:
•    Adjustable Clamping: Some holsters, most often plastic, use screws or Allen screws to regulate the force of the squeeze, which can be used to adjust how tightly the magazine is held in the holster. The compression force itself should be such that the magazine holds firmly in the sump, but is also easy to remove and load.
•    Open mag pouches: Open mag pouches allow quick access to the contents, but in harsh combat conditions the magazine may risk falling out. Fortunately, these magazines often have adjustable clips with cables on the underside of the holster.
 

   
•    Tape closures: This solution is the best way to prevent the magazine from falling out of the holster, simply by pulling a tape or bungee cord over the magazine to secure it firmly in the holster. Unfortunately, this in turn makes accessibility to the contents noticeably worse.

            
 

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What brand of magazine pouches should I choose?

Several manufacturers have built a reputation for quality and reliability in the magazine pouch market. Here we have a few of them that are worth investigating:
Primal Gear: This manufacturer's portfolio includes both single magazine pouches (most commonly the AR15 platform) and multiple magazine pouches. Their long magazine pouches will be appreciated by owners of SMG rifles.
INVADER Gear: This manufacturer has prepared for us both classic AR15 magazines for single and multiple magazines, as well as triple magazines for owners of MP5 rifles. Invader gear, ranks among the quality manufacturers.
CLAWGEAR: This popular Austrian manufacturer needs no introduction. In its offer we can find both open AR15 holsters and holsters for 3 AR15 magazines. Owners of DMR guns such as the HK417 will appreciate a holster designed specifically for HK417 magazines. Clawgear is one of the highest quality manufacturers ever.
Wosport, WADSN, GFC, Mil-tec: All of these manufacturers are more for the novice player or the casual user who is not looking for pro equipment. Nothing less in the price/performance ratio, these are bags that are perfectly adequate for most airsoft players.
 

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Final summary

Choosing the right rifle magazine pouch is more than just a style choice, it's about the right combination of functionality, comfort, ease of use and your style. Before choosing, be sure to consider your specific situation, such as the type of gun you use, the material you want the holster to be made of, the style of attachment to your gear, the capacity of the holster itself, the fit of the magazine in the holster - the intersection of all of these will tell you what kind of holster you need.
So invest some time and think about what you need from a sump, how many magazines you're going to carry, whether you're going oldschool or modern, but also what brand you're going to go for. The brand also determines the quality of the holster and the colour of the camouflage patterns. You'll feel the color scheme the most with camo patterns. Not every universal solution is truly universal.